Pneumatic radial tire including high-hardness rubber

ABSTRACT

A pneumatic radial tire capable of effectively controlling the occurrence of wandering phenomenon when being used in vehicles such as passenger car, small-size truck, truck, bus and the like is provided, in which a second tread zone contacting with a mountain side of a slant road surface is arranged so as to project toward a side of a first tread zone contacting with a flat road surface and camber thrust of the radial tire is increased by the second tread zone during the running on ruts and the like under loading.

This is a divisional of application Ser. No. 08/836,224 filed May 7,1997 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,849,118 a 371 of PCT/JP96/01296 filed May 16,1996.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a pneumatic radial tire effectivelycontrolling a complicated motion of the tire exceeding over a driver'sforecast or an occurrence of so-called wandering phenomenon to largelyimprove straight running stability when the tire is run on a slant faceof an uneven road surface such as a rut or the like.

BACKGROUND ART

The radial tire is excellent in the wear resistance and steeringstability because cords in a carcass ply are arranged so as to extendsubstantially in a direction perpendicular to an equatorial plane of thetire. Therefore, radial tires are frequently used as compared with biastires in not only passenger cars but also vehicles such as small-sizetruck, truck and bus with a recent advance of the high-speed performanceof these vehicles.

However, the high-speed running of the vehicles is daily carried out inaccordance with the improvement and expansion of road systems and thelike. For this end, it is strongly demanded to sufficiently control thewandering phenomenon liable to be caused in the radial tire rather thanthe bias tire to thereby enhance the straight running stability and moreimprove the safety.

Viewing the occurrence of wandering phenomenon in the radial tire, asshown in FIG. 1, when the tire T is rotated on a slant face S such asrut or the like, each of load W, reaction force F_(R) from road surfaceand camber thrust F_(c) is applied to the tire T and hence lateral forceF_(Y) as a resultant force of horizontal components of these forces actsthereto. The tire of radial structure is high in the treading rigidityas compared with the tire of bias structure, and also the rigidity ofthe tread portion is fairly higher than that of the side portion due tothe structure of the radial tire. The camber thrust F_(c) is madesmaller than that of the tire of bias structure and hence lateral forceF_(Y) directing to a lower side of the slant face S becomes relativelylarge by a quantity corresponding to the reduced quantity of the camberthrust F_(c). As a result, the tire T strongly tends to slip downward onthe slant face and it is difficult to ride over a rut and hence thewandering phenomenon is caused.

As shown at radial section of the tire in FIG. 2, when the tire isrotated on the slant face S, the camber thrust FC is caused based on thefact that the tread portion T_(r) tends to strongly contact with groundat an upper side or a mountain side of the slant face S and rise upwardat a valley side of the slant face S, and particularly falling-downdeformation of a region Bu in the vicinity of the buttress of the tireside portion or so-called bulging deformation bside toward the mountainside is caused at the mountain side due to the strong ground contact ofthe tread portion T_(r) and such a bulging deformation bside bringsabout bending deformation of the tread portion T_(r) near to a groundcontact end or so-called pushing-out deformation bsho, and such apushing-out deformation bsho in a zone near to the ground contact endfurther gives shearing deformation S_(s) as shown by dotted lines to thetread rubber in a portion near to the ground contact end, and such ashearing deformation creates a lateral force FCS directing to the upperside of the slant face S.

As regards the camber thrust F_(c), in the bias tire having a smalldifference of rigidity among constitutional parts of the tire and arelatively soft structure, sufficiently large bulging deformation bsideand pushing-out deformation bsho can be insured and hence the camberthrust F_(c) created becomes large; Since the rigidity of the treadportion in the radial tire is considerably higher than the rigidity ofthe side portion, a tendency of creating escape deformation in adirection opposite to the above as exaggeratedly shown by a phantom linebecomes strong in the tire side portion and hence the shearingdeformation SS of the tread rubber becomes naturally small and it isobliged to reduce the camber thrust F_(c).

In order to increase the camber thrust in the pneumatic radial tire,therefore, it is effective that the bulging deformation bside of theregion Bu is made large and the transmission efficiency of the bulgingdeformation bside is enhanced to make large the pushing-out deformationbsho in the zone near to the ground contact end to thereby increase theshearing deformation S_(s) of the tread rubber at the ground contact endportions. It is effective that the ground contact area of the tire tothe slant face S is made large to increase a total amount of lateralforce FCS directing to the upper side of the slant face S.

It is, therefore, an object of the invention to provide pneumatic radialtires sufficiently controlling the occurrence of wandering phenomenon onthe slant face of the rut or the like to largely improve the straightrunning stability by increasing the camber thrust of the radial tirewithout degrading the properties inherent to the radial tire.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

A first pneumatic radial tire according to the invention comprises apair of bead portions, a pair of sidewall portions, a tread portiontoroidally extending between both sidewall portions, a radial carcassreinforcing these portions and a belt reinforcing the tread portion atthe outer circumferential side of the radial carcass, in which the treadportion is comprised of a first tread zone contacting with a flat roadsurface and a second tread zone projecting toward the side of the firsttread zone and contacting with a mountain side of a slant road surface,and the first tread zone is a maximum width region of a ground contactportion of the tire on a flat road surface under a normal loading incase of truck and bus tire and under a loading corresponding to 70% of anormal loading in case of tires having a size smaller than that of thetruck and bus tire at an inflation state under a normal air pressure inaccordance with a maximum loading capacity according to JATMA standard,and the second tread zone is a region extending outward from the firsttread zone in widthwise direction of a ground contact portion on theflat road surface when a camber angle of 10° is applied to the tireunder a normal loading in case of truck and bus tire and under a loadingcorresponding to 70% of a normal loading in case of tires having a sizesmaller than that of the truck and bus tire at an inflation state undera normal air pressure in accordance with a maximum loading capacityaccording to JATMA standard.

In a preferable embodiment, a reinforcing portion projecting outwardfrom the second tread zone in the widthwise direction is arranged. In amore preferable embodiment, an outer profile line of the reinforcingportion at radial section of the tire is located inward from a phantomextending line of an outer profile line of the second tread zone in theradial direction of the tire.

The reinforcing portion may be constructed with plural ribs arranged atgiven intervals in the circumferential direction of the tire, ifnecessary.

It is favorable that a tread width is within a range of 80-105% of atire section width at an inflation state under a normal internalpressure, and it is favorable that a maximum width of the belt is withina range of 60-100% of the tire section width at the inflation stateunder a normal internal pressure.

In the first pneumatic radial tire, the tread portion is largelyprojected by a portion corresponding to the second tread zone in thewidthwise direction of the tire as compared with the conventionallygeneric radial tire, so that the ground contact area of the tire duringthe running on the slant face as shown in FIG. 2 is made larger ascompared with the conventional tire, whereby the total amount of lateralforce F_(cs) directing to the upper side of the slant face S can beincreased.

Since the second tread zone projecting in the widthwise direction of thetire has a high rigidity as a part of the tread portion T_(r), theescape deformation from the portion near to the ground contact end ofthe tread portion T_(r) to the tire side portion as exaggeratedly shownby the phantom line in FIG. 2 is effectively prevented to increase thebulging deformation bside. In addition, it is possible to transmit thepushing-out deformation bsho based on the bulging deformation bside to awide range of the second tread zone contacting with the slant face S,whereby the shearing deformation S_(s) of the tread portion Tr and hencecamber thrust F_(c) are effectively increased.

On the other hand, in the radial tire having no second tread zone, theposition of the ground contact end can not be moved to the upper side ofthe slant face during the contact with the slant face of the rut or thelike. Hence the ground contact pressure at the ground contact endportion and the neighborhood thereof largely rises and also the rigidityranging from the ground contact end portion to the tire side portion islow, and it is obliged to cause the escape deformation as shown in FIG.2

Therefore, the tire having the second tread zone is a tire of radialstructure and can effectively enhance lateral force F_(cs) and hencecamber thrust F_(c).

Even in the conventional radial tire, if there is a shoulder shape suchas round shoulder, taper shoulder or the like, when a camber angle of10° is applied to the tire, a side region of the tread portion maycontact with ground at a width of not more than about 5 mm. However,such a ground contact region is not a ground contacting portion of thetread having a high rigidity, so that it is impossible to bring aboutthe effect aiming at the invention.

In case of arranging the reinforcing portion so as to push outward fromthe second tread zone in the widthwise direction, such a reinforcingportion ensures the bulging deformation bside of a portion near to thebuttress and can effectively increase the bulging deformation bside, andas a result, the pushing-out deformation bsho of a portion near to theground contact end and the shearing deformation S_(s) of tread rubberare increased.

Moreover, when the outer profile line of this reinforcing portion inmeridional section of the tire is located inside a phantom extensionline of the outer profile of the second tread zone, the functionsinherent to the reinforcing portion can sufficiently be developedwithout the increase of extra weight while ensuring a sufficient groundcontact width to the slant face S.

In this tire, when the tread width is within a range of 80-105% of atire section width, a fear of breaking the tread end can sufficiently beremoved while sufficiently securing the increase of camber thrust F_(c).

Further, when the maximum width of the belt is within a range of 60-100of the tire section width, the above bulging deformation bside iseffectively transferred to the neighborhood of the ground contact endand also the occurrence of so-called belt end separation can effectivelybe prevented.

A second pneumatic radial tire according to the invention comprises atread portion comprised of a first tread zone contacting with a flatroad surface and a second tread zone projecting toward the side of thefirst tread zone and contacting with a mountain side of a slant roadsurface, in which a half width (TW₁) of the first tread zone is amaximum ground contact width in a ground contact portion of the tire onthe flat road surface from an equatorial plane of the tire under anormal loading in case of truck and bus tire and under a loadingcorresponding to 70% of a normal loading in case of tires having a sizesmaller than that of the truck and bus tire at an inflation state undera normal air pressure in accordance with the maximum loading capacity,and a width (TW2) of the second tread zone satisfies the followingcondition:

    TW.sub.2 /TW.sub.1 >4.0×10.sup.-2

when this width is a ground contact width extending outward from thehalf-width (TW₁) of the first tread zone among the maximum groundcontact width in the ground contact portion of the tire on the flat roadsurface from the equatorial plane of the tire when a camber angle of 10°is applied to the tire under a normal loading in case of truck and bustire and under a loading corresponding to 70% of a normal loading incase of tires having a size smaller than that of the truck and bus tireat an inflation state under a normal air pressure in accordance with amaximum loading capacity, and a distance (b) from a side edge of thefirst tread zone to an outer profile line of the tire at a positioncorresponding to 0.95 times a height (H) of the carcass from the beadcore at a state of inflating under an air pressure corresponding to 10%of a normal air pressure satisfies the following condition with respectto the width (TW₂) of the second tread zone:

    b/TW.sub.2 >1.2.

Moreover, the term "carcass height" used in the specification and claimsmeans a height from the bead core to an innermost carcass ply when thereare existent plural carcass plies.

In such a tire, it is preferable that a total tire thickness of a middlepart in the tire side portion locating within a range of 0.5-0.8 timesthe carcass height (H) from the bead core at the meridional section ofthe tire in a normal direction of the radial carcass is thinner than atotal tire thickness of the other part in the tire side portion, andthat a maximum width position of the radial carcass is located within arange of 0.6-0.8 times the carcass height (H) from the bead core.

Furthermore, it is favorable that the total tire thicknesses of the tireside portion in the normal direction of the radial tire at positions of0.85 times and 0.4 times the carcass height (H) from the bead core atthe meridional section of the tire are thicknesses exceeding 1.65 timesthe similar total tire thickness at the maximum width position of thecarcass.

And also, it is favorable that a width of the tread at a state ofinflating under an air pressure corresponding to 10% of the normal airpressure is within a range of 80-95% of the tire section width, and thata maximum width of the belt at a state of inflating under an airpressure corresponding to 10% of the normal air pressure is within arange of 60-90% of the tire section width.

In such a pneumatic radial tire, when the interrelation of thehalf-width of the first tread zone (TW₁) and the width of the secondtread zone (TW₂) are TW₂ /TW₁ >4.0×10⁻², the effective increase ofcamber thrust F_(c) can be particularly ensured while sufficientlymaintaining the ground contact width of the second tread zone when thetire is rotated on the slant face such as rut or the like, while whenthe interrelation of the distance (b) from the side edge of the firsttread zone to the outer profile of the tire and the width of the secondtread zone (TW₂) is b/TW₂ >1.2, the escape deformation of the buttressand the second tread zone as shown by a phantom line in FIG. 2 isrestrained, while the pushing-out deformation bsho accompanied with thebulging deformation bside of the second tread zone is increased toenhance the rigidity of the second tread zone and hence a large shearingforce to the road surface is generated in the contact of the secondtread zone with ground, whereby the effective increase of camber thrustF_(c) can be realized.

In a third pneumatic radial tire according to the invention, ahigh-hardness rubber layer having a JIS A-hardness higher by 3 degreesor more than rubber hardness of a tread rubber is arranged in a regionat the meridional section of the tire including an outermost position ofground contact end at the meridional section of the tire under a normalloading in case of truck and bus tire and under a loading correspondingto 70% of a normal loading in case of tires having a size smaller thanthat of the truck and bus tire at an inflation state under a normal airpressure in accordance with the maximum loading capacity and a positionmeasured from the bead core to 1/2 point of the carcass height from thebead core under an inflation of the above normal air pressure.

In this tire, it is favorable that a surface of the high-hardness rubberlayer at least facing an inner periphery side of the tire at themeridional section of the tire is rendered into a wavy form. An averagewavelength of the waved portion is not more than 1/3 of a totalextension of the waved portion and more particularly the total extensionof the waved portion is longer by not less than 20% than a length of aline segment passing through a middle point of the wave.

Furthermore, it is favorable that a thickness center of a maximumthickness in the high-hardness rubber layer as measured in a normaldirection of the radial carcass at the meridional section of the tireunder the inflation of the above normal air pressure is located outwardtoward the outer surface of the tire from a thickness center of a totaltire thickness as measured on a normal line passing through the abovemaximum thickness position.

In such a pneumatic radial tire, the high-hardness rubber layer embeddedin the region near to the buttress enhances the transmission efficiencyof the bulging deformation bside at this region to a part in thevicinity of the ground contact end to thereby increase the pushing-outdeformation bsho but also contributes to increase the shearing force ofthe tread rubber to the road surface, and hence the camber thrust F_(c)is increased.

When the surface of the high-hardness rubber layer at least facing theinner periphery side of the tire is made wavy at the meridional sectionof the tire, the adhesion strength of the high-hardness rubber layer toadjacent rubber layer is increased. Thus a fear of peeling off thehigh-hardness rubber layer can sufficiently be removed.

In a fourth pneumatic radial tire according to the invention, a thinnedportion is formed in at least a part of the side portion locating withina range of 0.5-0.8 times the carcass height (H) from the bead core at astate of inflating under an air pressure corresponding to 10% of thenormal air pressure in accordance with the maximum loading capacity sothat a total tire thickness of this thinned portion as measured in thenormal direction of the radial carcass at the meridional direction ofthe tire is not more than 75% of a similar total tire thickness of theother part in the tire side portion.

It is favorable that a position of the maximum width of the radialcarcass is located within a range of 0.6-0.8 times the carcass height(H) from the bead core, and that not less than 80% of a portion having amaximum curvature of the radial carcass at the meridional section of thetire is located within a range of 0.65-0.85 times the carcass height (H)from the bead core.

And also, it is favorable that the total tire thickness at themeridional section of the tire as measured in the normal direction ofthe radial carcass at a position corresponding to 0.85 times the carcassheight (H) from the bead core is not less than 0.64 times the similartotal tire thickness at a position of side edge of the belt. A thickenedportion is formed in at least a part of the side portion locating withina range of 0.8-0.85 times the carcass height (H) from the bead core sothat the total tire thickness of this thickened portion is not less than1.5 times the similar total tire thickness at a position correspondingto 0.75 times the carcass height (H) from the bead core.

According to this pneumatic radial tire, the total tire thickness of thethinned portion located within a range of 0.5-0.8 times the carcassheight (H) becomes particularly thinner as compared with the other partof the tire side portion and the bending rigidity of the thinned portionlocally lowers. As a result, the bending deformation concentrates inthis portion during the running of the tire on the slant face toincrease the bulging deformation bside of a portion near to the buttressand hence the pushing-out deformation bsho of a portion in the vicinityof the ground contact end becomes large and the camber thrust F_(c) iseffectively increased.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating a state of generating thewandering phenomenon.

FIG. 2 is a meridional section view illustrating a state of generatingcamber thrust.

FIG. 3 is a meridional section view of a first pneumatic radial tireaccording to the invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematically section view illustrating a state ofgenerating camber thrust in the tire of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5a and 5b are schematic view illustrating another embodiment of thefirst pneumatic radial tire.

FIG. 6 is a meridional section view of a comparative tire having nosecond tread zone.

FIG. 7 is a meridional section view of a half portion of a secondpneumatic radial tire.

FIG. 8 is a section view of the second pneumatic radial tire similar toFIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a meridional section view of a third pneumatic radial tire.

FIG. 10 is a section view of a main part illustrating an arrangement ofa high-hardness rubber layer.

FIG. 11 is a section view of a main part illustrating anotherarrangement of a high-hardness rubber layer.

FIG. 12a and 12b are is a section view illustrating another embodimentof the third pneumatic radial tire.

FIG. 13 is an enlarged view illustrating a wavy part of thehigh-hardness rubber layer.

FIG. 14 is a meridional section view of a half portion of a fourthpneumatic radial tire.

FIG. 15 is a meridional section view illustrating another embodiment ofthe fourth pneumatic radial tire.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In FIG. 3 showing a meridional section of a first pneumatic radial tire,1, 2 are a pair of bead portions and a pair of sidewall portions,respectively, and 3 a tread portion toroidally extending between thesidewall portions.

The word "tire side portion" or "side portion" used in the specificationand claims includes the bead portion 1 and the sidewall portion 2,respectively.

In this figure is a radial carcass 4 continuously extending from onebead portion 1 to the other bead portion 1. In this case, the radialcarcass 4 is comprised of two plies wound at their side portions arounda bead core 5 embedded in the bead portion 1 from inside toward outsideand one so-called down ply, and reinforces the above portions 1, 2, 3.

A belt 6 is arranged on an outer periphery side of a crown portion ofthe radial carcass 4 to reinforce the tread portion 3. The illustratedbelt 6 is comprised of three belt layers, among which a middle layer hasa widest width.

In this tire, the tread portion 3 is comprised of a first tread zone 7contacting with flat road surface during the running of the tire underloading and a second tread zone 8 projecting toward the side of thefirst tread zone 7 and contacting with a mountain side of a slant roadsurface.

In this case, the first tread zone 7 is concretely a maximum widthregion of a ground contact portion of the tire on a flat road surfaceunder a normal loading in case of truck and bus tire and under a loadingcorresponding to 70% of a normal loading in case of tires having a sizesmaller than that of the truck and bus tire at an inflation state undera normal air pressure in accordance with a maximum loading capacityaccording to JATMA standard.

The loading condition used herein is determined by considering themagnification and frequency of load actually applied to the tire, and isbased on the fact that a maximum load is frequently loaded in truck andbus and a load corresponding to about 70% of the maximum load is loadedin vehicles other than the above.

Furthermore, the second tread zone is a region extending outward fromthe first tread zone in widthwise direction of a ground contact portionon the flat road surface when a camber angle of 10° is applied to thetire under the respective loading condition in truck and bus tire andtires other than the above at the inflation state under the above normalair pressure.

The reason why the camber angle of 10° is given to each of the tires isbased on the knowledge that when examining the tire behavior during therunning on a rut in detail, the deformation state on the slant face ofthe rut is substantially the same as that in the application of camberangle of 10° to the tire.

When the tire having such a structure is run on a slant face S underloading as shown in FIG. 4, the ground contact area can be increased bya region of ground contact width of the second tread zone 8 owing to thepresence thereof as compared with the conventional radial tire, wherebylateral force F_(cs) directing toward upper side of the slant face S andhence camber thrust F_(c) can directly be increased.

Further, the second tread zone 8 of high rigidity not only prevents theescape deformation of a portion near to the buttress but also positivelycontributes to the increase of the pushing-out deformation of a portionnear to the ground contact end as previously mentioned, from which pointthe effective increase of camber thrust F_(c) can also be realized.

In this case, it is preferable that the radius of curvature of thesecond tread zone 8 is not less than 40 mm at a section shown in FIG. 3for ensuring the sufficient ground contacting property of this zone.

In FIG. 5, a reinforcing portion 9 projecting outward from the secondtread zone 8 in the widthwise direction is arranged in theaforementioned tire, whereby the strength and rigidity in the secondtread zone 8 and buttress portion are increased.

The outer profile line of the reinforcing portion 9, preferably at themeridional section of the tire is located inward from a phantomextending line of the outer profile line of the second tread zone 8 inthe radial direction of the tire, whereby the contact of the reinforcingportion 9 with ground is prevented during the running of the tire on theslant face S under loading.

Furthermore, the projection quantity of the reinforcing portion 9 towardthe side of the tread portion can be determined by consideringdurability to heat generation, weight, cost and the like required forsatisfying the running conditions, and easiness of mounting a tire chainon snow road. The projection quantity is gradually decreased inward inthe radial direction of the tire and disappears at an upper end of thesidewall portion 2.

Such a reinforcing portion 9 brings about the increase of the bulgingdeformation bside under the improved reinforcing action and caneffectively contribute to the more increase of the camber thrust F_(c).

Moreover, when the reinforcing portion 9 is annually and continuouslyarranged in the circumferential direction of the tire, or when it isarranged at slight intervals through slits having a narrow width or thelike in the circumferential direction, the functions inherent theretocan effectively be developed.

On the other hand, in order to effectively control the increase of tireweight while maintaining the reinforcing effect through the reinforcingportion 9, as shown in FIG. 5, it is favorable that the reinforcingportion 9 is constructed with a plurality of ribs 10 arranged atrelatively large intervals in the circumferential direction of the tire.

In the pneumatic radial tire of the first preferred embodiment, it isfurther preferable that the tread width TW is within a range of 80-105%of the tire section width TS under the inflation of the above normal airpressure, and that the maximum width of belt BW is within a range of60-100% of the tire section width TS.

In other words, when the tread width TW is less than 80% of the tiresection width TS, there is caused a fear that the camber thrust FC cannot sufficiently be increased, while when it exceeds 105%, the increaseof camber thrust F_(c) reaches to limit and a fear of breaking the treadend becomes higher. Further, when the belt maximum width BW is less than60% of the tire section width TS, there is caused a fear of damaging theeffective transmission of the bulging deformation bside of a portion inthe vicinity of buttress to a portion near to the ground contact end.When it exceeds 100%, the increase of camber thrust F_(c) reaches tolimit and also it is apt to cause separation at belt end portion.

A comparison test relating to the effect of controlling the wanderingphenomenon in the pneumatic radial tire of the above structure will bedescribed below.

Test Tire

Various radial tires for small-size truck having the structure shown inFIG. 3 and a tire size of 195/85R16 114/112L LT are manufactured byvarying the tread width and belt maximum width under dimensions shown inTable 1 as invention tires 1-3. In these tires, the tire section widthTS is 191 mm, and the outer profile line of the tread portion iscomprised of an arc having a radius of curvature of 300 mm over a regionoutward from the equatorial plane of the tire to 37.6 mm in thewidthwise direction of the tire, an arc having a radius of curvature of10° mm over a region outward from the equatorial plane of the tire to37.6-80.0 mm in the widthwise direction of the tire and an arc having aradius of curvature of 50 mm over an outermost region in the widthwisedirection of the tire.

In this case, the first tread zone 7 is existent in a region outwardfrom the equatorial plane of the tire to each side of 62.5 mm in thewidthwise direction of the tire, and the second tread zone 8 is existentoutward from the first tread zone 7 in the widthwise direction.

Further, the reinforcing portion 9 as shown in FIG. 5 is arranged totires having the same structure as mentioned above as invention tires 4and 5. In this case, each of the ribs 10 constituting the reinforcingportion 9 taperingly projects outward from a side edge of the secondtread zone 8 to 10 mm in the widthwise direction of the tire, and theprojection quantity gradually decreases inward in the radial directionof the tire and disappears on the upper end portion of the sidewallportion 2. The rib 10 has a width of 20 mm in the circumferentialdirection of the tire. These ribs 10 are arranged at an interval of 16mm in the circumferential direction in a total number of 64 on thecircumference.

As a comparative tire, there is prepared a tire having the structureshown in FIG. 6. This comparative tire differs from the tire shown inFIG. 3 in only a point that the second tread zone 8 is not existent.

Test Method

Each of these tires is inflated under a normal air pressure of 6.0kgf/cm² and mounted onto a small-size truck of 2 ton capacity (rearwheel is double-wheel type). The small-size truck is run on a paved roadincluding ruts at a state of loading under a maximum authorized payloadby a test driver, during which a straight running stability is feelinglyevaluated.

The results are also shown in Table 1 by an index evaluation that thecomparative tire is 100 (the larger the index value, the better theproperty).

As seen from this table, the tires according to the inventioneffectively prevent the wandering phenomenon and can largely improve thestraight running stability

                                      TABLE 1                                     __________________________________________________________________________                Belt Tire                                                            Tread maximum section Reinforc- Straight                                      width width width ing running                                                Tire TW (mm) BW (mm) TS (mm) portion stability Remarks                      __________________________________________________________________________    Comparative                                                                          125  125  189  none 100  FIG. 6                                          tire (0.66) (0.66)                                                            Invention 180 125 189 none 124 FIG. 3                                         tire 1 (0.95) (0.66)                                                          Invention 180 162 189 none 137 FIG. 3                                         tire 2 (0.95) (0.86)                                                          Invention 192 162 189 none 142 FIG. 3                                         tire 3 (1.02) (0.86)                                                          Invention 180 162 189 presence 139 FIG. 5                                     tire 4 (0.95) (0.86)                                                          Invention 192 162 189 presence 145 FIG. 5                                     tire 5 (1.02) (0.86)                                                        __________________________________________________________________________     Note) Numerical value in parenthesis of tread width and belt maximum widt     is a ratio to tire section width.                                        

The, the second preferred embodiment of a pneumatic radial tireaccording to the invention will be described with reference to FIG. 7.In this case, a solid line indicates the invention tire, and brokenlines indicate the conventional tire. Moreover, explanations are omittedwith respect to the same structural portions as described in the firstpneumatic radial tire.

In this tire, an interrelation between a half-width TW₁ of the firsttread zone 7 and a width TW₂ of the second tread zone 8, that is, theinterrelation between the half-width (TW₁) of the first tread zone as amaximum ground contact width in a ground contact portion of the tire onthe flat road surface from an equatorial plane of the tire under anormal loading in case of truck and bus tire and under a loadingcorresponding to 70% of a normal loading in case of tires having a sizesmaller than that of the truck and bus tire at an inflation state undera normal air pressure in accordance with the maximum loading capacity.The width (TW₂) of the second tread zone as a ground contact widthextending outward from the half-width (TW₁) of the first tread zoneamong the maximum ground contact width in the ground contact portion ofthe tire on the flat road surface from the equatorial plane of the tirewhen a camber angle of 10° is applied to the tire under a normal loadingin case of truck and bus tire and under a loading corresponding to 70%of a normal loading in case of tires having a size smaller than that ofthe truck and bus tire at the inflation state under the above normal airpressure and TW₂ /TW₁ >4.0×10⁻².

In addition, an interrelation between the width TW2 of the second treadzone and a distance (b) between points P, Q when an intersect between aphantom line segment drawn from the bead core 5 to a height positioncorresponding to 0.95 times a carcass height H, which is a height H fromthe bead core 5 to an innermost carcass ply at the inflation under anair pressure corresponding to 10% of the above normal air pressure, witha normal line drawn from a side edge of the first tread zone 7 to thephantom line segment is P and an intersect of the phantom line segmentwith the outer profile line of the tire is Q is b/TW₂ >1.2.

The illustrated tire satisfying the above conditions can developfunctions similar to those of the above first embodiment of a pneumaticradial tire under each action of the first tread zone 7 and the secondtread zone 8 constituting the tread portion 3.

When the width TW₂ of the second tread zone 8 is not more than 4.0×10⁻²to the half-width TW₁ of the first tread zone 7, the ground contactwidth of the second tread zone can not sufficiently be ensured duringthe running of the tire on the slant face under loading and hence therequired increase of camber thrust F_(c) can not be obtained.

Observing the deformation behavior of the second tread zone 8 during therunning of the tire on the slant face, it is usually effective toincrease the rigidity of a portion in the vicinity of the point P inorder to create a large pushing-out deformation bsho based on thebulging deformation bside. As a result, that the buttress portion candirectly be reinforced and also the second tread zone 8 can indirectlyand effectively be reinforced by sufficiently making large rubberthickness of a portion outward from the point P in the axial directionof the tire to render the ratio of rubber thickness b to width TW₂ ofthe second tread zone 8 into more than 1.2. Consequently the pushing-outdeformation bsho of the second tread zone 8 is effectively increased andalso a large shearing force to road surface is created in the groundcontact portion of the second tread zone 8, whereby camber thrust F_(c)can largely be increased.

In other words, when the ratio is less than 1.2, the reinforcing effectis low and it is difficult to create the large pushing-out deformationbsho resulted from the bulging deformation bside.

This is particularly effective when a reinforcing portion 11 furtherprojecting from a tread end or a side edge of the second tread zone 8 isdefined in the outer profile line of the tire passing the point Q asshown, in which the reinforcing portion 11 itself functions likewise thereinforcing portion 9 described on the first pneumatic radial tire andcan effectively contribute to the increase of camber thrust F_(c).

In such a tire, it is favorable that a total tire thickness of a middlepart in the tire side portion locating within a range of 0.5-0.8 timesthe carcass height H from the bead core 5 at the meridional section ofthe tire in a normal direction of the radial carcass is thinner than atotal tire thickness of the other part in the tire side portion. Amaximum width position of the radial carcass is located within a rangeof 0.6-0.8 times the carcass height H.

According to the former case, when the thickness of the middle part inthe tire side portion is made smaller than the thickness of each of thebuttress portion and the bead portion, not only the increase of thepushing-out deformation bsho can be ensured while maintaining thebuttress portion at a high rigidity, but also the rigidity of the middlepart is made small to concentrate the bulging deformation bside of aportion near to the buttress and the bulging deformation bside can alsobe increased, and they can effectively contribute to the increase ofcamber thrust F_(c).

This is particularly remarkable when each total tire thickness atpositions corresponding to 0.85 times and 0.4 times the carcass height Hfrom the bead core 5 exceeds 1.65 times the total tire thickness at theposition of carcass maximum width. In other words, when it is not morethan 1.65 times, it is difficult to sufficiently increase the bulgingdeformation bside.

Moreover, the reason why the positions corresponding to 0.85 times and0.4 times the carcass height H are specified is based on the knowledgethat in order to conduct the concentration of deformation into themiddle part located within a range of 0.5-0.8 times the carcass heightH, it is advantageous to sufficiently thin a portion of this range,particularly the position of carcass maximum width with respect toportions at the positions of 0.85H and 0.4H outside the above range.

In the latter case, when the position of carcass maximum width isspecified within a range of 0.6H-0.8H, it is possible to increase thebulging deformation bside during the running of the tire on the slantface under loading by making small the radius of curvature of thecarcass ranging from the tread end portion to the buttress region andalso it is possible to increase the pushing-out deformation bsho byapproaching the position of creating the bulging deformation bsidetoward the buttress region. In addition, carcass tension at theinflation under the air pressure is made small within this range, sothat the more increase of the bulging deformation at this range can beensured.

In such a tire, it is further favorable that the tread width at theinflation under an air pressure corresponding to 10% of the normal airpressure is within a range of 80-95% of the tire section width, and thatthe belt maximum width is within a range of 60-90% of the tire sectionwidth.

This can realize the direct increase of camber thrust F_(c) and theincrease of bulging deformation bside likewise the first embodiment ofthe pneumatic radial tire.

When the tread width exceeds 95% of the tire section width, a fear oflowering the durability to heat generation due to the increase of rubberthickness at the end portion of the belt becomes higher, while when thebelt maximum width exceeds 90% of the tire section width, a fear oflowering the belt durability and the durability to heat generationaccompanied with the increase of strain in the end portion of the beltbecomes higher.

Moreover, in order to sufficiently contact the second tread zone 8 withground in this tire, it is preferable that the radius of curvature ofthe outer profile line at the meridional section of the tire is not lessthan 30 mm. Also the reinforcing portion 11 may be comprised of annularprojection continuously extending in the circumferential direction ofthe tire, or plural ribs likewise the first pneumatic radial tire.

Although the practical embodiment of the second embodiment of apneumatic radial tire is described with respect to a tire shown in FIG.7 having a tire size of TBR 11R 22.5 14 PR, the above features aresimilarly applied to a tire shown in FIG. 8 having a tire size of TBR215/70 R17.5. In this case, a solid line indicates the invention tire,and broken lines indicate the conventional tire.

Incidentally, the invention tire shown in FIG. 7 has TW₁ 33 2=185.0 mm,TW₂ =9.6 mm, b=19.7 mm, b/TW₂ =2.05, TW₂ /TW₁ =10.83×10⁻², while theconventional tire shown in the same figure has TW₁ ×2=185.0 mm, TW₂ =0.0mm, b=15.5 mm.

Further, the invention tire shown in FIG. 8 has TW₁ ×2=167.0 mm, TW₂=8.0 mm, b=15.4 mm, b/TW₂ ×1.93, TW₂ /TW₁ =9.58×10⁻², while theconventional tire shown in the same figure has TW₁ ×2=167.0 mm, TW₂ =0.0mm, b=12.1 mm.

A comparison test between the invention tire and the conventional tireshown in FIG. 7 will be described with respect to the performance ofcontrolling the wandering phenomenon below.

Test Tire

There are provided invention tires 6-9 and conventional tire having atire size of 11R22.5 14PR and dimensions shown in Table 2.

In the invention tires, the outer profile line of the tread portion iscomprised of an arc having a radius of curvature of 580 mm outward fromthe equatorial plane of the tire to 62.8 mm in the widthwise directionof the tire, an arc having a radius of curvature of 200 mm outward fromthe equatorial plane of the tire to 62.8-91.5 mm in the widthwisedirection of the tire, and an arc having a radius of curvature of 200 mmoutward therefrom in the widthwise direction of the tire.

In this case, the first tread zone 7 is existent in a region outwardfrom the equatorial plane of the tire to each side of 92.5 mm in thewidthwise direction of the tire, while the second tread zone 8 isexistent outward from the first tread zone 7 in the widthwise direction.

Moreover, the conventional tire has no second tread zone because thetread portion is comprised of only the first tread zone.

Test Method

Each of these tires is mounted onto a rim of 7.50×22.5, inflated under anormal air pressure of 7.0 kgf/cm² and then mounted onto a usual truckof 11.5 t capacity (wheel arrangement 2-D·4). The truck is run on apaved road including ruts at a state of loading under a maximumauthorized payload by a test driver, during which a straight runningstability is feelingly evaluated.

The results are also shown in Table 2 by an index evaluation that theconventional tire is 100 (the larger the index value, the better theproperty).

As seen from this table, the tires according to the invention canlargely improve the straight running stability.

                                      TABLE 2                                     __________________________________________________________________________                                      Thickness at                                                                          Thickness at                              Second tread H85/Thickness H40/Thickness  Index of                          Tire section Belt maximum zone and at position of at position of                                                                    Position of                                                                   straight                                                                        Tread width                                                                 width width                                                                   reinforcing                                                                   carcass carcass                                                               carcass running       Tire W (mm) SE (mm) W (mm) portion maximum width maximum width maximum                                                                width stability     __________________________________________________________________________    Conventional                                                                         185.0  265.0 156.0  none   13.2/8.7 = 1.52                                                                       13.2/8.7 = 1.52                                                                       H × 0.57                                                                        100                   tire (W/SE = 0.65)  (B/SE = 0.59)                                             Invention 214.0 263.0 156.0 presence 14.2/8.7 = 1.63 14.2/8.7 = 1.63 H                                                                × 0.57                                                                  127                   tire 6 (W/SE = 0.81)  (B/SE = 0.59)                                           Invention 214.0 263.0 156.0 presence 15.6/8.2 = 1.90 14.6/8.2 = 1.78 H                                                                × 0.57                                                                  145                   tire 7 (W/SE = 0.81)  (B/SE = 0.59)                                           Invention 214.0 263.0 156.0 presence 15.6/8.2 = 1.90 14.6/8.2 = 1.78 H                                                                × 0.65                                                                  151                   tire 8 (W/SE = 0.81)  (B/SE = 0.59)                                           Invention 214.0 263.0 170.0 presence 15.6/8.2 = 1.90 14.6/8.2 = 1.78 H                                                                × 0.65                                                                  163                   tire 9 (W/SE = 0.81)  (B/SE = 0.65)                                         __________________________________________________________________________     Note) Thickness at H85 and thickness at H40 indicate tire thicknesses at      positions corresponding to 0.85 times and 0.40 times the carcass height H     respectively.                                                            

A practical embodiment of the third embodiment of a pneumatic radialtire according to the invention will be described with reference to FIG.9 below.

In this case, explanations are omitted with respect to the same portionsas described in the first pneumatic radial tire.

In this radial tire, a high-hardness rubber layer 15 having a JISA-hardness higher by 3 degrees or more, preferably 5 degree or more thatthat of tread rubber is arranged in a region 14 shown by oblique linesin the same figure at the meridional section of the tire ranging from aposition 12 of an outermost ground contact end in the meridional sectionof the tire under a normal loading in case of truck and bus tire andunder a loading corresponding to 70% of a normal loading in case oftires having a size smaller than that of the truck and bus tire at aninflation state under a normal air pressure in accordance with themaximum loading capacity to a point 13 corresponding to 1/2 of a carcassheight H₀ from the bead core as the carcass height H₀ from bead coreunder the inflation of the above normal air pressure and including bothpositions 12, 13.

In other words according to FIG. 9, when a width between both outermostground contact ends is CW, the above region 14 is a range separatingoutward from the equatorial plane X--X of the tire to not less than awidth of CW/2 in the widthwise direction of the tire and separatingoutward from the bead core 5 to not less than H₀ /2 in the radialdirection of the tire. In this case, the boundary of the region 14toward the tread side is specified by a normal line 16 drawn from theposition of the outermost ground contact end to the outer surface of thetire in the illustrated section.

When the tire having such a structure is run on the slant face such asrut or the like under loading as shown in FIG. 2, since the rubberhardness of the high-hardness rubber layer 15 arranged in the region 14is higher than that of the tread rubber, the bulging deformation bsideof a portion near to the buttress is easily transferred to a portionnear to the ground contact end and hence a ground contact end portion ofthe tread portion, and as a result, the pushing-out deformation bsho andshearing deformation SS of tread rubber can be increased to bring aboutthe sufficient increase of camber thrust F_(c).

In this case, the reason why the arranging range of the high-hardnessrubber layer 15 is restricted to the above region 14 is due to the factthat the large bulging deformation bside is particularly produced inthis region. Further, the reason why the rubber hardness of thehigh-hardness rubber layer 15 is made higher than that of the treadrubber by 3 degree or more, preferably 5 degree or more as JISA-hardness is due to the fact that when the difference of rubberhardness is less than 3 degree, it is difficult to except the sufficientdevelopment of the aforementioned functions.

The magnification of strain accompanied with the above bulgingdeformation bside or the transmission easiness of the deformation bsidebecomes particularly large at the outer surface side of the tire, sothat it is advantageous to arrange the high-hardness rubber layer 15near to the outer surface. For this end, it is preferable that thecenter of maximum thickness of the high-hardness rubber layer 15 asmeasured in the normal direction of the radial carcass 4 at themeridional section of the tire under the inflation of normal airpressure is located outward from the thickness center of the total tirethickness measured on the normal line passing through the maximumthickness position toward the outer surface of the tire.

In this connection, the high-hardness rubber layer 15 shown in FIG. 10is arranged so that the surface facing the outer side of the tire isexposed to the outside of the tire.

A comparison test relating to the function of controlling the wanderingphenomenon in the pneumatic radial tire of the above structure will bedescribed below.

Test Tire

There are provided three radial tires for small-size truck having a tiresize of 195/85 R16 114/112L LT, in which two tires having structuresshown in FIG. 10 and 11 are invention tires 10 and 11 and the tirehaving the structure shown in FIG. 6 is a comparative tire.

In the invention tire 10 shown in FIG. 10, the high-hardness rubberlayer 15 having a JIS A-hardness of 76 degrees, a thickness of 2.5 mmand a width of 25 mm is arranged so as to expose to the outer surface ofthe tire starting from a position of 70 mm from the equatorial planeX--X of the tire in the widthwise direction of the tire as previouslymentioned. In this case, the JIS A-hardness of the tread rubber is 61degrees.

In the high-hardness rubber layer 15, the maximum thickness measured inthe normal direction of the carcass 4 is 2.8 mm and the thickness centerthereof is existent in a position of 1.4 mm from the outer surface ofthe tire. Further, the total tire thickness measured on the same normalline is 13.5 mm and the thickness center thereof is existent in aposition of 6.75 mm from the outer surface of the tire.

Further, the invention tire 11 shown in FIG. 11 has the same structureas in the invention tire 10 except that the high-hardness rubber layer15 having substantially a triangular section of 25 mm in width and 11 mmin maximum thickness and a JIS A-hardness of 67 degree is arrangedstarting from a position of 70 mm from the equatorial plane X--X of thetire at a depth of 0.5 mm from the outer surface.

In the high-hardness rubber layer 15 of the latter tire, the maximumthickness measured in the normal direction of the carcass 4 is 12.7 mmand the thickness center thereof is existent in a position of 6.85 mmfrom the outer surface of the tire. Further, the total tire thicknessmeasured on the same normal line is 13.5 mm and the thickness centerthereof is existent in a position of 6.75 mm from the outer surface ofthe tire.

Moreover, the comparative tire shown in FIG. 6 has the same structure asin the invention tire except that the high-hardness rubber layer 15 isomitted.

In these tires, the normal air pressure in accordance with the maximumload capacity (1180 kg) is 6.0 kgf/cm², and the ground contact width CWunder a load (826 kg) corresponding to 70% of the maximum load capacityis 120 mm. Also the carcass height H₀ from the bead core 5 at theinflation under the normal air pressure (6.0 kgf/cm²) is 136 mm.

Test Method

Each of these tires inflated under an air pressure of 6.0 kgf/cm² ismounted onto a small-size truck of 2 t capacity, in which a rear wheelis double-wheel type. The small-size truck is run on a paved roadincluding ruts at a state of loading under a maximum authorized payloadby a test driver, during which a straight running stability is feelinglyevaluated. The results are shown in Table 3.

In this case, the index of straight running stability is based on thatthe comparative tire is control, in which the larger the index value,the better the property.

As seen from Table 3, the straight running stability is considerablyimproved in the tires according to the invention.

                  TABLE 3                                                         ______________________________________                                                                       Straight                                          JIS A-hardness running                                                       JIS A-hardness of high-hardness stability                                     of tread rubber rubber layer (index)                                        ______________________________________                                        Comparative                                                                             61 degrees   none        100                                          tire                                                                          Invention 61 degrees 76 degrees 115                                           tire 10                                                                       Invention 61 degrees 67 degrees 127                                           tire 11                                                                     ______________________________________                                    

FIG. 12 is a meridional section of another practical embodiment of thethird pneumatic radial tire, in which the surface of the high-hardnessrubber layer 15 facing to the inner periphery side of the tire is waved.As shown in FIG. 12a, when the high-hardness rubber layer 15 iscompletely embedded in rubber within the region 14, the surface facingto the outer periphery side of the tire may also be waved.

In this way, the adhesion area between the high-hardness rubber layer 15and the adjoining rubber layer is increased to increase the adhesionstrength (adhesion force×adhesion area), so that the excellent peelingstrength can be given to the high-hardness rubber layer 15 againststrain repeatedly generated during the running of the tire under loadingwhile maintaining the performance of controlling the wanderingphenomenon likewise the aforementioned radial tires. Further, such awave intersects at a large angle with respect to the progressingdirection of the peel, so that it can effectively counteract to theprogressing of the peel.

When an average wavelength of the waved portion 17 is not more than 1/3of a total extension of the waved portion 17, the adhesion strength ofthe high-hardness rubber layer 15 can be more enhanced under theapplication of many waves.

When the total extension of the waved portion 17 is longer by 20% ormore than a length of a line segment 18 passing through a center of thewave as shown by dot-dash line in FIG. 13, the adhesion area is furtherincreased and hence the adhesion strength can be more further enhanced.

A comparison test relating to the wandering resistance of this pneumaticradial tire and the peeling resistance of the high-hardness rubber layerwill be described below.

Test Tire

The invention tire having the structure shown in FIG. 11 and used in theabove comparison test is a control tire and a tire having the structureshown in FIG. 12a is an invention tire 12.

In this case, the high-hardness rubber layer 15 of the control tire hasthe same dimension, properties and the like as mentioned above, whilethe high-hardness rubber layer 15 and the like of the invention tire 12have the same arranging position, volume, properties as those of thecontrol tire except that the shape is different from that of the controltire. Moreover, the total extension of the waved portion in theinvention tire 12 is 125% of the corresponding portion of the controltire.

Test Method

The evaluation of the wandering resistance is carried out by feelinglyevaluating the straight running stability when each of the radial tireshaving a tire size of 195/85 R16 114/112L LT is inflated under an airpressure of 6.0 kgf/cm² and mounted onto a small-size truck of 2 tcapacity with a rear wheel of double-wheel type and then the small-sizetruck is run on a paved road including ruts at a state of loading undermaximum load capacity. The results are shown in Table 4.

The index of the straight running stability is based on the fact thatthe control tire is 100, in which the larger the index value, the betterthe property.

Further, the evaluation of the peeling resistance is carried out by anindex of a running distance until the peeling length grows to 5 mm whenthe tire is run on a drum at a speed of 50 km/h under a maximum normalloading in the inflation of normal air pressure (6.0 kgf/cm²) inaccordance with the maximum loading capacity. The results are also shownin Table 4.

In this case, the larger the index value, the better the result.

                  TABLE 4                                                         ______________________________________                                                                    Straight                                             JIS A-hardness running Peeling                                               JIS A-hardness of high-hardness stability resistance                          of tread rubber rubber layer (index) (index)                                ______________________________________                                        Control tire                                                                           61 degrees 67 degrees  127   100                                       Invention 61 degrees 67 degrees 128 130                                       tire 12                                                                     ______________________________________                                    

As seen from Table 4, the invention tire 12 can largely enhance thepeeling resistance with the some improvement of the straight runningstability as compared with the control tire.

FIG. 14 is a meridional section of the fourth pneumatic radial tireaccording to the invention. in this figure showing a tire for asmall-size truck having a tire size of 195/85 R16, an invention tire isindicated by a solid line, and a comparative tire is indicated by abroken line.

In this case, a thinned portion 19 is formed in at least a part of theside portion locating within a range of 0.5-0.8 times, preferably0.5-0.7 times the carcass height H from the bead core 5 at a state ofinflating under an air pressure corresponding to 10% of the normal airpressure in accordance with the maximum loading capacity so that a totaltire thickness of this thinned portion as measured in the normaldirection of the radial carcass 4 at the meridional direction of thetire is not more than 75% of a similar total tire thickness of the otherpart in the tire side portion.

In the illustrated embodiment, the total tire thickness of the thinnedportion 19 at a position of 0.63H from the bead core 5 is 5.5 mm, whichcorresponds to 61% of minimum thickness of 9.0 mm at a position otherthan the region of 0.5H-0.8H (position of 0.49H).

According to such a structure, the rigidity of the thinned portion 19within a range of 0.5H-0.8H from the bead core 5 locally lowers aspreviously mentioned. The bending deformation in the illustrated sectionconcentrates in the thinned portion 19 during the running of the tire onthe slant face under loading to thereby increase the bulging deformationbside of a portion near to the buttress and hence the pushing-outdeformation bsho of the portion near to the buttress is also increasedto effectively increase the camber thrust FC.

The reason why the thinned portion 19 is arranged within a range of0.5H-0.8H is due to the fact that when the portion is existent inwardfrom 0.5H toward the bead core, it can not contribute to the increase ofthe bulging deformation bside, while when the thinned portion isarranged at a position exceeding 0.8H or in the buttress portion, thebulging deformation bside can not effectively be transmitted to aportion near to the ground contact end and hence the ground contact endof the tread portion due to the lowering of the rigidity in the buttressportion.

Further, the reason why the thickness of the thinned portion 19 is notmore than 75% of the thickness of the other portion is due to the factthat when it exceeds 75%, the difference of thickness and hence thedifference of rigidity become small and it is difficult to sufficientlyincrease the bulging deformation bside.

In such a tire, it is preferable that the position of maximum width ofthe radial carcass 4 is located within a range of 0.6-0.8 times thecarcass height H from the bead core 5. In the illustrated embodiment,the maximum width position is at 0.69H.

It is further favorable that not less than 80% of a portion of theradial carcass 4 having a maximum curvature is existent within a rangeof 0.65-0.85H the carcass height H from the bead core 5. In theillustrated embodiment, the maximum curvature is 1/23 and 100% of themaximum curvature portion is located within the above range.

By locating the maximum width position of the carcass 4 within a rangeof 0.6H-0.8H, preferably 0.7H-0.8H, it is possible to increase thebulging deformation bside and also it is possible to effectivelyapproach the position of generating the bulging deformation bside to thebuttress region to more effectively increase the pushing-out deformationbsho produced through the bulging deformation bside. On the other hand,the carcass tension in the inflation under the air pressure issufficiently made small within the above range, whereby the bulgingdeformation bside can be more increased.

When the maximum width position is a position of less than 0.6H, thereis a fear that the sufficiently large bulging deformation bside is notobtained. When it is a position of more than 0.8H, the maximum widthposition of the carcass 4 is too near to the end portion of the belteasily forming trouble nucleus during the running of the tire underloading and hence there is caused a fear of lowering the tire durabilityto heat generation, the belt durability and the like.

By locating not less than 80% of the portion having the maximum carcasscurvature within a range of 0.65H-0.85H, preferably 0.7H-0.85H, thebulging deformation bside and the pushing-out deformation bsho caneffectively be increased likewise the case that the maximum widthposition of the carcass 4 is selected within a range of 0.6H-0.8H.

That is, when it is less than 0.65H, it is difficult to increase thebulging deformation bside to a satisfactory level. When it exceeds0.85H, the lowering of the durability to heat generation, beltdurability and the like is feared.

Moreover, it is favorable that the total tire thickness measured in thenormal direction of the radial carcass 4 at the meridional section ofthe tire at a position corresponding to 0.85 times the carcass height Hfrom the bead core 5 is not less than 0.64 times the similar total tirethickness at a position of the side edge of the belt. As a result thereinforcing effect of the buttress region is enhanced and also therigidity of the second tread zone can be increased. That is, when theratio is less than 0.64 times, it is difficult to sufficiently developthe above functions.

The definition of the total tire thickness ratio at the side edgeposition of the belt and the position of 0.85H is based on the knowledgethat the total tire thickness at the side edge position of the beltlargely affects the rigidity of the tread portion during the running ofthe tire on the slant face and such a total tire thickness is mainlydetermined by considering the durability to heat generation, wearresistance and the like as main properties of the tire, while theinfluence of the total tire thickness at the position of 0.85H isconsiderably large as compared with the other portion in order toincrease the bulging deformation bside and the pushing-out deformationosho.

In the illustrated embodiment, the thickness at the side edge positionof the belt is 22.9 mm, and the thickness at the position of 0.85H is17.2 mm, so that the ratio is about 0.75 times.

More preferably, a thickened portion is formed in at least a part of theside portion locating within a range of 0.8-0.85 times the carcassheight H from the bead core 5 so that the total tire thickness in thenormal direction of the radial carcass 4 at the meridional section ofthe tire is not less than 1.5 times the similar total tire thickness ata position corresponding to 0.75 times the carcass height H from thebead core 5. In the illustrated embodiment, the total tire thickness ofthe thickened portion 20 at a position of 0.85H is 17.2 mm and that at aposition of 0.75H is 10.5 mm, so that the ratio is about 1.64 times.

According to such a structure, the rigidity of the second tread zone canbe largely increased by the thickened portion 20 to effectivelyreinforce the buttress region. Therefore, the bulging deformation bsideand the pushing-out deformation bsho can largely be increased to bringabout the effective increase of the shearing deformation S_(s).

Moreover, when the ratio is less than 1.5 times, it is difficult toensure the sufficient development of the above effect.

FIG. 15 is a section view illustrating another practical embodiment ofthe fourth pneumatic radial tire, in which a thinned portion 21 locatedwithin a range of 0.5H-0.8H, preferably 0.5H-0.7H is locally thinned. Inthis figure, the minimum thickness of the thinned portion 21 is 5.5 mmat the position of 0.62H.

Such a thinned portion 21 can effectively function the increase of thecamber thrust FC likewise the above thinned portion 19 graduallyreducing the thickness, but also can particularly control the occurrenceof damage produced due to the violent reduction of the thickness whenthe tire side portion is rubbed by an edge of a road during the runningof, for example, a bus owing to the above local thinning.

A comparison test relating to the performance of controlling thewandering phenomenon in the above pneumatic radial tire will bedescribed below.

Test Tire

There are provided radial tires for small-size truck having thestructure shown by a solid line in FIG. 14 and a tire size of 195/85 R16114/112L LT by varying thickness distribution of side portion andcarcass line as shown in Table 5 as invention tires 13-16, while a tireshown by broken line in the same figure is a comparative tire.

Test Method

Each of these tires is inflated under a normal air pressure of 6.0 kgf/cm² in accordance with the maximum loading capacity and mounted onto asmall-size truck of 2 ton capacity (rear wheel is double-wheel type).The small-size truck is run on a paved road including ruts at a state ofloading under a maximum authorized payload by a test driver, duringwhich a straight running stability is feelingly evaluated.

The results are also shown in Table 5 by an index evaluation that thecomparative tire is control (the larger the index value, the better theproperty).

As seen from this table, the tires according to the inventionconsiderably improve the straight running stability.

                                      TABLE 5                                     __________________________________________________________________________          Thin gauge                                                                          Position of                                                                        Position of                                                                        Thick gauge region                                         region carcass carcass (H85 gauge/belt side Straight                          (H65 gauge/ maximum maximum edge gauge) running                              Tire H49 gauge) width curvature (H85 gauge/H75 gauge) stability             __________________________________________________________________________    Comparative                                                                         0.82  0.55 H                                                                             0.5 H                                                                              0.59 1.42  100                                            tire                                                                          Invention 0.61 0.55 H 0.5 H 0.59 1.42 110                                     tire 13                                                                       Invention 0.61 0.72 H 0.5 H 0.59 1.42 114                                     tire 14                                                                       Invention 0.61 0.72 H 0.78 H  0.59 1.42 118                                   tire 15                                                                       Invention 0.61 0.72 H 0.78 H  0.75 1.64 127                                   tire 16                                                                     __________________________________________________________________________     Note) H65 gauge/H49 gauge and the like indicate ratio of thickness at         position of 0.49 H from bead core to thickness at position of 0.65 H from     bead core.                                                               

As seen from the above, the pneumatic radial tires according to theinvention can effectively control the occurrence of wandering phenomenonwhen being applied to vehicles such as passenger car, small-size truck,truck, bus and the like and particularly can realize the excellentstraight running stability even on road surfaces including ruts and thelike during the high-speed running of the vehicle.

What is claimed is:
 1. A pneumatic radial tire comprising; a pair ofbead portions, a pair of sidewall portions, a tread portion toroidallyextending between both sidewall portions, a radial carcass reinforcingsaid sidewall portions and a belt reinforcing the tread portion at theouter circumferential side of the radial carcass, a high-hardness rubberlayer having a JIS A-hardness higher by 3 degrees or more than rubberhardness of a tread rubber is arranged in a region at a meridionalsection of the tire which is located between an outermost position of aground contact end of said tread portion at the meridional section ofthe tire under a normal loading in case of truck and bus tire and undera loading corresponding to 70% of a normal loading in case of tireshaving a size smaller than that of the truck and bus tire at aninflation state under a normal air pressure in accordance with themaximum loading capacity and a position measured from a bead core to a1/2 point of the carcass height from the bead core under a tireinflation of said normal air pressure, and a surface of saidhigh-hardness rubber layer at least facing an inner periphery side ofthe tire at the meridional section of the tire and spaced from saidcarcass and said belt has a wavy surface.
 2. A tire according to claim1, wherein an average wavelength of the wavy surface is not more than1/13 of a total extension of the wavy surface.
 3. A tire according toclaim 1, wherein the total extension of the wavy surface is longer bynot less than 20% than a length of a line segment passing through amiddle point of the wave.
 4. A tire according to claims 1, wherein athickness center of a maximum thickness in the high-hardness rubberlayer as measured in a normal direction of the radial carcass at themeridional section of the tire under the inflation of the above normalair pressure is located outward toward the outer surface of the tirefrom a thickness center of a total tire thickness as measured on anormal line passing through the above maximum thickness position.